My father is Emperor Wu of Han, how can I be different from him?

Chapter 243 The prosperous age
When the emperor was in private with the general Wei Qing, he once said to his brother-in-law and brother-in-law: "I have done more, I hope the younger generation will do less, and I will bear the blame."

His words coincide with the same line as "Your Majesty is in power, the war will not stop, and we need to live in peace with the people and wait for the crown prince."

The emperor's inner thoughts and expectations for his successor, these are things that many court officials could not understand, but a young man could tell them all in one sentence.

A thousand-mile horse, truly worthy of the name.

of course.

The reason why the emperor was so pleased was that he was smart, only one of the reasons was that this smart young man was a member of the royal family!

Boy's name: Liu De.

Descendants of Liu Jiao, King of Chu and the half brother of Emperor Gao.

In terms of blood lineage, he is actually quite different from the current Emperor Liu Che. But no matter how distant his blood lineage is, he is still a royal family member, and the word "Liu" cannot be written twice with one stroke.

Besides, as the saying goes, it’s not a problem if you don’t know the goods, but it’s a problem if you compare the goods.

There were the rebellious King of Huainan, King of Hengshan, King of Jiaodong, as well as the adulterous King of Jiangdu, King of Guangchuan, King of Qi Li, and many other strange people.

A talented person finally emerged in the royal family, and Liu Che, as the patriarch of the Liu family, was overjoyed.

This joy.

It’s not just the questions asked in the Xuanshi Hall.

As early as the initial examination of the Guanglu Temple, the emperor noticed that Liu De, who was about the same age as the prince, was taking the Jinshi examination and his prose was beautiful.

Afterwards, the emperor sent someone to investigate him. Liu De had been practicing Huang-Lao philosophy since he was young, and at a young age he took Laozi's advice of being content with what one has as his guiding principle.

After questioning him in court, the emperor saw that Liu De was extremely intelligent, and he liked him more and more. He thought: "He is a man of inaction and non-contention, and he is about the same age as the prince."

'The best part is that he comes from a branch of the royal family!'

"With such talent and character, he will be trained to be the Crown Prince's assistant in the future. He is truly the best choice to protect our ancestral temple!"

'good! ’

Liu Deshang didn't know that he just said one sentence, and the emperor on the dragon bed arranged his life...

It's not just Liu De, others are the same.

Those who can enter the Weiyang Palace to take part in the palace examination are all selected by the emperor himself. Otherwise, why are most of the people in the Xuanshi Hall at this moment dressed simply?

If we had let go and allowed the officials of the Guanglu Temple to lead the selection, half of the scholars who could enter the Weiyang Palace today would be children of aristocratic families.

the other half.

It is filled with Confucian disciples...

The emperor had no shortage of Confucian scholars to serve him, and he was tired of the surnames of the aristocratic families. Petty officials, merchants, poor families, and farmers, these people -

This is the kind of disciple that Liu Che wants!
After the palace examination.

On that day, all the officials in the imperial court were summoned to the palace, along with the Minister of Agriculture, Wang Heng.

The latter was called to review a policy paper concerning agricultural affairs, while the former was called to review other answer sheets.

It was not that the emperor was incapable of reviewing and ranking the papers by himself, but he insisted on summoning the ministers to discuss the matter, if for no other reason than to highlight the importance of the imperial examination!
The next day, at 2:30 pm on the evening of the 11th.

At this auspicious time predicted by the Grand Asura Lord himself, the announcement of the results of the first imperial examination of the Han Dynasty finally arrived in front of the North Palace Gate of the Weiyang Palace!
Under the palace wall, there was a huge crowd and a lot of noise.

There were scholars who were anxiously waiting, servants who followed their masters, and the people of Chang'an who gathered around to watch the excitement, all of them were looking forward to it.

"Hey, it's coming!"

"It's a list written on yellow silk!"

"quiet!"

"Ahem, silence~" After the guards shouted, followed by a hoarse voice, the noisy scene soon quieted down.

The eunuch stood on a three-foot high platform, spread out the silk, cleared his throat, and shouted in a sharp voice as if he was calling for an end to the court meeting:
"In the third year of Yuanding, in the ninth month of autumn, there is a good family boy from Lu, Bingji, who is strict with the law and loyal to the king, and has passed the imperial examination!"

wow——

The audience started to shout, and before they could look around to find the real person, they heard another loud voice: "There is another prince of Pei County, Liu De, who is as gentle as jade, talented and quick-witted, and has passed the imperial examination!"

After the words were spoken, there was still some noise, but it was less surprising and seemed more natural.

Followed by.

The duck-like voice suddenly rose to a high pitch, and he sang out the first place in the imperial examination: "Zhao Guo, a poor boy from the north, devoted himself to farming, was loyal and sincere, and passed the imperial examination with a high rank—!"

Before he finished speaking, the crowd could no longer suppress their exclamations. Looking around, there were faces everywhere looking around, and everyone was asking:

"Who is Zhao Guo?"

"A child from a poor family? He actually surpassed a child from a royal family?"

"Where is he? Brother Zhao, would you be willing to show up and see him?"

In the midst of this chaotic noise, several Beidi County scholars on the outskirts of the crowd exclaimed, "Brother Zhao, you won first place!"

"Hey! Here, here, Zhao Guo, Brother Zhao is here!"

Before Zhao Guo, who looked stunned, could react, or before the eager people around him could come forward to chat and make friends, a team of imperial guards separated the crowd, and the eunuch walked straight up to Zhao Guo and said with a smile:
"Lord Zhao, His Majesty has prepared a banquet in the palace and has specially ordered us to come and invite you. Please come."

It was just a plain sentence, but when it landed on the ground, the waves it caused were a hundred times stronger than the previous roll call!
Your Majesty invites you to a banquet?
Is this the treatment only available to ministers?

The noise outside the North Palace gate suddenly dropped to silence, and everyone present opened their mouths wide in amazement.

Being stared at by so many fiery eyes, Zhao Guo felt his ears buzzing, blood rushing to his head, and his whole body trembling!
He was so dizzy that he didn't know what he said afterwards. He only knew that he followed the smiling old eunuch into the palace.

After he left——

boom!
The noise of drums suddenly exploded!

Conversations filled with excitement, shock, and disbelief filled the entire area in front of the North Palace.

At this point, everyone realized a problem - holding imperial examinations to select scholars seemed to be much more important than conscription and recommendation, and more important than everyone knew!
The top three candidates in the imperial examination were invited into the palace to attend the emperor's banquet.

Although the remaining names on the list were sung by an official from the Guanglu Temple, the level seemed to be lowered, but the first three were treated with such high courtesy.

The enthusiasm of the crowd has not diminished but increased!
Every time the name of a successful scholar was called, there would be a burst of jubilation among the crowd. As the scene outside the North Palace Gate spread, more people gathered.

The common people watch the excitement, while the officials just watch the tricks.

After hearing about the emperor's treatment of the top three candidates in the imperial examination, many officials in the capital immediately beat their chests and stamped their feet in regret. Similar words were heard all over the capital, such as:

"oops!"

"If I had known that His Majesty would treat me with such courtesy, why would I have waited for my colleagues to recommend my son?"

"My son is good at studying classics, isn't he better than that petty official or farmer's son?"

"Ugh!"

No matter how much they sigh, now that things have come to this, they can only envy, hate and resent.

However, most of the officials who expressed the above emotions were of lower to middle ranks. The real high-ranking officials might have felt surprised and moved.

But they absolutely don't have the idea of ​​letting their own children play and that they can do it too.

they know.

Even if the sons of noble families, noble families, and young masters went up, they couldn't grab the position because the Emperor didn't want it!

Your Majesty wants Zhao, Liu and Bing!

The top three in this imperial examination, and even the rankings of the top three in the imperial examinations in later generations, when their talents were similar, what really determined their ranking were actually factors other than talent.

For example, the emperor’s preferences, political views, identity background, and even his appearance!

Of course.

When the Han Dynasty first held an imperial examination to select candidates, appearance was not a factor taken into consideration, but in the previous ones, every one of them was considered!
Zhao Guo, first of all, was a son of a farming family and came from a humble background. Choosing him as the top scholar was like setting a benchmark for all the poor scholars in the world.

Second.

Zhao Guo offered suggestions on farming, and the emperor chose him, which also reflected the national policy of emphasizing agriculture. At any time in the Han Dynasty, emphasizing agriculture was absolutely politically correct!
The emperor is not exempt from vulgarity!
It’s hard for a man with full buffs to be eliminated...

Let’s talk about the second place, Liu De. It’s obvious that he is a member of the royal family and has real talent and knowledge. If the emperor didn’t have some concerns about his reputation, it wouldn’t be excessive to give him the first place, right?
Finally, there is the third place winner Bingji.

The people of Lu promoted him to set a benchmark for all the people of the vassal states. If the left official law of the past was "blocking", today's scene is "loosening". The emperor is telling the subjects of the vassal states:

"Don't be loyal to the princes anymore, come to the court!"

"I give you high positions and generous salaries—"

In addition to Bingji's identity as a native of Lu, his familiarity with the law is also a plus. Apart from this, is there anything else?
Have!
Bingji was a direct beneficiary of the "questioning in court". When he was answering questions in the Xuanshi Hall, he once said:
"Regarding the reporting of the corruption, local officials concealed or failed to report it. I offer my advice..."

It doesn’t matter what advice he gave afterwards. He informed the emperor of the local deceptions that were being made. This action was very important!
After hearing this, Liu Che immediately ordered the eunuchs to pick out Bingji's test paper.

He wants to make use of this person!

Looking back now, if the descendants of officials in the capital city rushed into the imperial examination hall, could they really win the championship?
not necessarily.

Dongfang Jing, the son of a nobleman, couldn't even touch the door of Xuanshi Hall. Others who came could only serve as a foil...

but.

Not taking the palace examination doesn’t mean that Dongfang Jing failed.

The top three in this imperial examination will not be listed in detail. Apart from them, the other twenty-one people who participated in the palace examination that day each had a ranking.

Those who failed to take part in the palace examination would be judged by Guanglu Cheng Ni Kuan together with his subordinates, and a preliminary list would be selected and submitted to the emperor for review.

Finally, an announcement was made outside the North Palace Gate, and all the successful candidates were called: successful Jinshi.

A total of one hundred and fifteen people!
The Jinshi were selected by the officials of the Guanglu Temple. Dongfang Jing, the son of a nobleman, was naturally honored to be on the list, and the son of the Grand Herald had to be given some face.

then.

If the Grand Herald has to save face, does that mean other people have to do the same?
Then, among the more than 100 successful candidates, Confucian scholars accounted for one third...

Seeing this, some people may ask, in the imperial examination, can the examiners really treat people differently and give them face?

Isn't this cheating?

If we really look into it, from the perspective of the mature imperial examination system of the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was indeed cheating, but from the perspective of the imperial examination system of the Tang and early Song dynasties, it was not cheating.

Because in the early Tang and Song dynasties, the answers to the imperial examinations were not covered with names...

Not obscure name.

Doesn't that give you room to treat people differently?

This is also why after the initial examination of the Guanglu Temple Imperial Examination Hall was over, as soon as Liu Ju found something wrong, he went to the Weiyang Palace to offer suggestions and standardize the imperial examination process.

However, the preliminary examination had already ended and the problem could not be rectified, so the new rules could only be implemented in the next imperial examination.

Fortunately, if the officials of the Guanglu Temple can make changes, then so can the emperor.

Everyone is capable of being a hooligan.

You promote the sons of noble families, and I will promote the poor scholars. Let’s see who gets promoted... Wow, you actually dare to compete with me to see who promotes more?

Don't dare?

Oh, it’s good that you don’t dare.

Soon after, the result of the Han Dynasty's first imperial examination became what everyone saw: eight out of ten people who could enter the palace examination were of humble origins.

Seven out of ten candidates who passed the imperial examination were of humble origins. Even though Ni Kuan preferred Confucian scholars, the emperor made it clear that—

Give me the poor scholar!
In this regard.

Ni Kuan did not have any resistance at all, but executed it very thoroughly, all because Ni Kuan himself came from a poor family...

The emperor did not choose him as the chief examiner randomly.

After the announcement of the results, the top three candidates in the imperial examination were invited into the palace by the emperor. Today's banquet was held to show that Jian was truly in the emperor's favor.

The future of Zhao, Liu and Bing will definitely be bright.

at the same time.

The emperor did not favor one over the other. The top three had a banquet in the palace, and the rest of the successful candidates also had a banquet, and it was hosted by the prince himself!

The specifications are really full...

night.

The lights are coming on in Spring Breeze Tower.

"Everyone." On the main seat in the hall, the prince sat in the middle, and Guanglu Cheng Ni Kuan sat on the left. Liu Ju saw everyone looking over at him, so he raised his wine cup and said with a smile:

"You have passed the imperial examination today, which is a great joy in life. I would like to offer you a toast, please!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

All the scholars in the hall were radiant and raised their glasses together. When they finished their glasses, they congratulated each other and celebrated.

Seeing this, Liu Ju asked someone to fill his glass again. Before he stood up to talk to them, he first turned sideways to Ni Kuan and saluted, saying with a smile:

"All the young men present here today will be students of the Guanglu Cheng in the future. We still need Mr. Ni to urge and share the worries for the court."

"Don't dare."

Upon hearing this, Ni Kuan quickly picked up the wine cup, bowed slightly, and said modestly: "The imperial examinations are open to select scholars, and all the selected scholars are disciples of the emperor. I dare not be greedy for credit."

After hearing this, Liu Ju smiled and nodded. He stood up and helped Ni Kuan up. "There is no need to be so formal. Today is the banquet for the successful candidates."

"Whatever you like."

"Yes." Ni Kuan nodded, but his body remained respectful and his face was even more cautious and humble.

Seeing this, Liu Ju patted his shoulder and said casually: "Grand Secretary Guanglu, please be at ease. I don't take Li Guangli's matter to heart. Let's have the banquet."

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

As he spoke, Ni Kuan raised his glass and drank it all.

In the past, when the Yilan Palace was newly built, Li Guangli went to Ni Kuan's house in the name of Madam Li. It was Ni Kuan who first promoted Li Guangli.

But now things have changed. Madam Li passed away, Li Guangli has lost power, and Ni Kuan has to pay the price for his kindness back then.

Fortunately, the prince was kind and did not make things difficult for himself.

Just a penalty drink...

Liu Ju did not pursue Ni Kuan's thoughts. Since the other party had given him the gesture, he let it go. He turned around and joined the group of scholars who were celebrating, toasting and chatting.

Dongfang Jing took the initiative to come forward and introduce scholars from all over the country to the prince. Liu Ju accepted all of them, encouraging or praising them, or saying from time to time:
"You are good, I will remember you!"

Most of the successful candidates in the imperial examinations were from poor families. They could not bear such a big offer. They were all so fascinated by the prince that their hearts were beating fast and their faces were beaming.

Looking at these simple yet passionate eyes, looking at these young scholars who are full of vitality and ambition, Liu Ju's words were vague, but he was happy from the bottom of his heart.

It has nothing to do with interests, power, or calculations.

It was a kind of...pure sense of pride, satisfaction, and accomplishment of being able to make some changes for the Han people.

When we live our lifetime, we must leave something in the world and in history, right?
Liu Ju went to do it.

So far, well, the results are pretty good.

On this night in late autumn of the third year of Yuanding, Chang'an was brightly lit and young people were full of vigor and vitality. On this night, countless lofty ambitions and patriotism were born.

At this moment.

You, us, them, every living person, together created this prosperous picture...

……

It's night, three o'clock in the morning.

To the north of Chang'an, at the Luo Gate, the sound of hurried horse hooves suddenly came from outside the dark city wall, and the guards on the city wall immediately became alert.

Unexpectedly, before they could even ask, a roar suddenly rang out in the darkness:
"Emergency at the border——!"

"The Xiongnu army is invading our borders, advancing a hundred miles a day. Wuyuan is overthrown. Shuofang is asking for help. Report this to the emperor immediately!"

(End of this chapter)